Instagram rockets to the top of App Store chart 24hrs after $1bn buyout by Facebook

Instagram has gone straight to the top of Apple’s App Store charts less than 24 hours after Facebook’s $1billion (£630million) buyout of the company.

Instagram has risen to the top of the App Store charts (Picture: Twitter/Instagram)

The photo-sharing programme became the most downloaded app for the first time in its history just hours after being purchased by Mark Zuckerberg’s company Facebook.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said the purchase was an ‘important milestone’ (Picture: EPA)

It overtook favourites such as the critically acclaimed puzzle strategy game Angry Birds and popular app Draw Something to claim top spot.

The company tweeted on Tuesday: ‘Instagram is #1 in the @AppStore for the first time ever! Thanks everyone!’

Mobile users have flocked to download the app following the huge amount of interest generated by the mega-money deal.

The app was also downloaded over five million times in less than a week by Andriod users following its launch on the Linux-based mobile device this week.

Facebook founder said Zuckerburg hailed the purchase as the biggest in his company’s history on Tuesday, saying: ‘This is an important milestone for Facebook because it’s the first time we’ve ever acquired a product and company with so many users.

‘We don’t plan on doing many more of these, if any at all.’

Instagram currently has over 30million users, a number which looks set to swell following Facebook’s surprise takeover of the service and its increased profile worldwide.

Instagram was founded less than two years ago ( Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

However some disgruntled users have threatened to delete their accounts following the takeover amid privacy fears.